Rotary separator



sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,916

J.J.KEARNS ROTARY SEPARATOR Filed Feb, 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l sept. 2z, 1925. 1,554,976

J. J. KEARNS ROTARY SEPARATOR Filed Fbq 14. 1925 2 sheets-snaai' 2 Chrome lj Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN J. Knasusos .sroKAJang WASHINGTON.

ROTARY SEPARATOR.

Application led February To all wiz-omit 'may concern Be it known that I, Jol-IN J. `llicai-nns, a citizen of the United States, residingat Spokane, in Spokane County, and State of lvashington, have invented certainn-eiv'and useful Improvements in Rotary Separators, of which the following is a specification. f

My present invention relates to improvements in rotary separators of the horizontal axis type and designed especially for use in grading seed grain by separation. By the utilization of the apparatus of my invention, sand, gravel and similar materials may be graded vby separation in the saine manner that the small seed and cracked grain are separated, and therefore itfvvill be understood that While the device is herein described as a grain separator, othermaterials may be treated thereby.

The invention consists in certain 4novel features` of construction and combinations and arrangements of partsinvolving a plu# rality or series of concentric, foraminous screens of differing mesh, adapted to rotate on a single axis and provided with a single charging device and a plurality of discharg# ing devices as will hereinafter be `more fully set forth and claimed.

Three grades of grain as coarse, medium, and line are contemplated in the apparatus as illustrated, and itivill be rn'idcrstood that the use of varying numbers of 'screens are contemplated for the invention.

ln the accompanying c'lraivings ll have illustrated one complete example of the physical en'ibodimcnt of `my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance With the best inode l have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a rotary separator involving my invention and illustrating` by dotted lines the manner of emptying the apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical 'sectional view of the rotary screens partly broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation showing the cylindrical screens and their heads in extended position.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation at the discharge end of the separator.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation at the charging end of 'the separator.

Y, In the preferred form of my invention the 14, 1925. Serial No. 9,289.

operating parts are supported on thesusual frame 1 Which is `provided with a hinged journal bearing2 the charging end of the machine and a swiveled journal bearing` 3 at the discharge end of the machine. This latterbearing has a sleeve d with trunnions 5 supportedor journaled in` the bearing frame 6, and the longitudinally disposed shaft? of the machine, is supported or journaled in these two bearings 2 ,and 3. The shaft is j Wheel 8 which is coupled With suitable driv-z ing mechanism for the rotation of the shaft; The shaft carries a pair of circular heads or disks 9 and 10 the former at the charging end of the machine; and the latter at the dis-Y charging end, and these respective; heads have hubs 11 and 12 on` the shaft. The heads are adjustablelongitudinally of the shaft and set bolts 13 are used in connection With hub 12 for securing the head 19 in adjust'edposition. -The head 9 is held in fixed position on the shaft by means of the nut 14e Which engages the 'threadedportion l5 of the shaft provided for the purpose. By relatively adjusting these heads on the shaft the length of the separator `may be varied as required to suit` different 'sii/res; and because of the` peculiar construction involving the heads,`this adj ustment niajf'lle accomplished ivith facility anda minimum amount of labor.

In the example of the invention herein illustrated three forau'linous screens as i/6,' 17, and 18m-e illustrated adapted respec# tively for separation of coarse, niiediuni and fine seeds, and these screens of varying mesh are arranged concentrically between tho tivo heads, 9 and l0. The screens are in the form of `cylinders and they are atlixed at the inner sides of the two heads.` :The head whichl may be of cast metal is fashioned withV a concentric seriesof annular grooved flanges 19, 2O and 2l at its inner side and the head l0 is fashioned With a complementary7 series of concentric, annular grooved flanges 19, 20 and 21. The respective ends of the three cylindrical screens may be provided With annular binding strips or bands 22 which fit in the complementary grooved flanges of the two heads for the purpose of supporting the screens between the heads as a rigid structure, rotatable With the shaft.

The head 9 at the charging end of the machine is fashioned with a central charging opening 23 concentric with the shaft 7 provided With a driving sprocket and communicating with, the interior of the smallest screen 116, and a feed. h-opper 2a is provided for supplying the grain seed to the interior of the inner or smallest screen. As the separator is rot-ated it Will be apparent Y that the grain is sifted through the coarse and medium screens and the finest material or dust passes through the outer screen 18; The coarse materials passr out through a central opening 24C in the discharge head 10, and this head is also provided with two concentric annular openings 25 and 26 from the medium and tine screens respectively for material separated in these screens.

The central discharge opening 24 and the annular concentric openings 25 and 26 are fashioned with discharge flanges 27, 28, and 29 respectively. These flanges may be cast integral with the head 'l0 and are located at its outerside as seen in Figures 2 and il, and these annular flanges flare outwardly from the headA for the purpose of guiding the material from the respective scneens as the separator rotates. Brace bars 30 are fashioned at bot-h ends of the separator integral with the headsl 9 and 10, and as seen in Figures 4 and 5 these bars radiatefrom the center of the heads to hold the several parts as a rigid structure.

In connection with the several discharge flanges of the head l0 I employ a stationary series of discharge spouts 31, 32, and 33 for the coarse, fine, and medium material respectively. These spouts are retained by a band 34 and are each provided with an apron 35 fitted beneath the outer side of the respective flaring flanges 27, 28, and 29. rIhe band partially encircles the severalspouts and is attached to a supporting bar 36 by means of bolts 37 Figure ll. The supporting bar is detachably secured on the main frame of they machine by means of bolts SS andk nuts 2%?)` in order that the stationary discharge device including the spouts may be readily removed from the separator When'required.

After the seed grain has been. thoroughly separated by the operation of the rotary screens, and the several grades of material have been disposed of through the several spouts and emptied into bags or other receptacles, the shaft and its screens may be tilted to the position indicated in dotted lines for the purpose of emptying the residue from the separator.

For this purpose the hinged journal bearing 2 is opened to permit tilting of the sepal'ator on the tr'unnions 5 of the swiveled bearing, and a sleeve LI0 may be slipped over the end of the shaft, as indicated in Figure 1 to retain the separator in tilted position. Thissleeveis attached to a cord or flexible Wire Lil which is secured at 42 to the machine frame, and the separator is held in tilted position for cleaning its interior.

In this tilted position, the screens may be changed With facility, by first releasing the several screens from the spaced heads. Screens of differing mesh and of differing length may readily be interchanged for various purposes, while the separator is in tilted position, and after proper adjustment of parts thev separator is returned to normal level vposition for subsequent operation.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A rotary separator comprising a shaft and a pair of spaced heads thereon, a` concentric' series of screens forming annular spaces with one closed end, a complementary series of grooved annular flanges on adjoining faces of said heads for said screens, means for securing the heads on the shaft, a central charging opening in one head and a central discharging opening in the other head, and a series of annular discharge openingscomplementary to said spaces surrounding the last mentioned central opening.

2. A rotary separator comprising a` shaft, a pair of spaced hea-ds and means for securing said heads on the shaft, a concentric series of grooved annular flanges on adjoining faces of said heads, a series of foraminous screens retained in said groove-d lianges and kforming annular spaces, one of said heads having a. central charging opening and a centrali discharging opening in the other head, and a series of outwardly flaring discharge flanges located adjacent to annular discharge openings in the second head.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature.

JOHN J. KEARNS. 

